yesterday and today

I walked two miles again this morning then we went to Averys award ceremony, I was even pinned with Girl Scout pin:) after that was over I dropped Ave off at camp for the night. I dont know whats wrong with me, I still feel dizzy and depressed. I really need to get out of this funk. Justin is in Kentucky tonight, I really miss him. Just typing that made my eyes well up with tears. I have this open wound on my leg and I dont know where it came from. It has pus and it is red all around. I feel like Im falling apart. I shouldn't be complaining. My dear friend Brenda e-mailed me last night that her mom passed away. I struggled with whether or not I should share with everyone. I know I met most of you ladies through Brenda's post, she is a wonderful women and can use everyones thoughts and prayers right now.

These are llamas i think, there were two deer but I scared them when I tried to takle there picture:(, this is on the way to the lodge

driving up the mountain

this is the girl scout lodge

leaving the camping lodge, this is the top of the mountain.

Avery receiving her pins and patches at the award ceremony today

these are from our field trip on Friday

Avery is on the right with the white apron and yellow brimmed hat

what a waste!

Go ahead and say it " I told you so", those weight loss pills made me so dizzy and I gained 2 pounds back. I stopped taking them as of today. What a waste of $175 can you believe I thought they were going to be the answer to my weight issue. The answer to that is excercise and stop eating like a pig. This morning I walked 2 miles right in my living room and yesterday I walked a mile and a half. This has to be a lifestyle change for me not a quick fix.
We are getting ready to go on a field trip to the historical museum with Ave's girl scout troop, the kid's have no school today. I have some shopping to do at Costco. Tomorrow Avery has a girl scout badge ceremony/potluck and after that the cancelled camping trip is back on so I will be pretty busy. Have a happy Friday:))

wordless wednesday with words

these two cats really must love each other

I just returned from a doctors appointment with the gynocologist. I went to see her because I have extreme periods, thats the nicest way to describe them. She did an exam and she feels fibroids on my uterus, last year I had a cyst on my left ovary and had surgery to remove the cyst, they couldnt get the cyst off so they took the ovary. I have an ultra sound on the 12th to confirm that what she felt are fybroids she says dont worry so I wont. She said it is common. I see her again on the 16th to decide the best treatment for my periods and the results of the ultra sound. We did not have anymore snow:( Tonight for dinner we are having bacon, turkey , lettuce and tomato sanwiches and baked beans, I should go buy an avocado to go with it. Im very tired today and I know tonight is church but I dont feel like going but I probably will.

What I really want to do is put my pajamas back on and curl up on the couch:) Have a happy Wednesday!!!

Im back

I just returned home from taking Justin back to work and guess what? It's snowing:) just a little dust but it might turn into something heavy. Yesterday Justin not only vacumed the house he also made breakfast, went with me to the laundry mat and helped, and then he grilled steaks and ribs for us last night. He will be back on February 18th. I need to go catch up on blogs so I will keep this short. Happy Tuesday:)))

Guess who's home

Yep, Justin is here and he is vacuming the house:) I wonder what else I can get him to do. I wont have a long post today, I wont go to bible study tonight either, our time together is short and I want to make the best of it. Have a great Monday!!!

Just another day

Today is quite boring, I took the girls to the library came home made lunch, cleaned the house and went outside and picked up dog poop. last night Avery and I went to Target and Sears, Avery's jacket that I bought for Christmas has a messed up zipper so I thought i would exchange the jacket through the kidvantage plan that Sears offers. The man clerk had attitude so I asked to speak to a manager. I wasn't signed up automatically on the plan and didn't have a receipt, they offered a size 16 jacket for my 8 year old daughter that was the only size they had in the same brand, so to make a long story short I felt like an idiot for calling for the supervisor and Avery still has the same jacket:( Then we went to Target and I bought my nieces Valentine pajama's, I will mail those to them on Monday. For dinner we are having lemon pepper chicken breast and a mix of veggies in my fridge that need to be eaten. We had a few pathetic sprinkles today but that was it, it's really sad. I'm going to go see how all your guys Saturday is going:)

Finally!!!

Guess what? I rented the unit last night:) YAY!!! A father and his 19 year old son will be moving in today. I made a a few mistakes with the amount of the move in but it will be fixed today. This was my first rental, next time I will be more experienced and hopefully it will run smoother.
I think i will go get my haircut today and go to Costco. Yesterday I bought one of those hostess boxes of six 100 calorie carrot cakes, I ate all six packs:( They were good. I wish these people would hurry up and get here so I can fix my mistake. They owe me an additional $53. I just want to get this money into Dales bank account, I dont like having all this cash on me.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!

wrong night:)

It is Sunday night that they ask for praises and testimonies:) I wasn't that nervous but I did write what i wanted to say on paper. Wednesday is Bible study with the pastor and we are studying 1 Corinthians and it is an open floor discussion. I'm fine with participating in that so I think i will be okay on Sunday evening when the microphone is passed around. Honestly I was relieved and would be more than willing to tell each person one by one but I know that's not the way God wants me to do it, I think he wants me to shout from a mountainside. For those of you that don't know exactly how I was blessed this is what took place. I smoked cigarettes for 20 years and for the past 2 years I was trying really hard to quit smoking. I tried patches, hot lines and all the tips and tools they recommend, I used Chantix and that was helpful but only lasted as long as I took the pill, I even tried willpower. When I started attending church I was on the Chantix and I went to my pastor with 7 days free of cigarettes and asked for prayer. I followed up with more prayer, stopped the Chantix and I by the grace of God and his love for me have been a non-smoker for almost 4 months and I have had no cravings and this has not been a struggle. I thank God every day for this blessing:)
Guess who called me last night? Dale the owner of the building. It turns out that he drove to Houston, TX to pick up some medicine.
I have a management meeting tonight. I don't think I will go for the dinner I will skip that and just show up to hear the speaker.
I had 5 homeless cats on my porch this morning waiting to be fed. I know this summer there will be so more. The county I live in doesn't care about cats unless you pay them to take them and you have to bring them with proof of shots.
I'm going to go to Walmart after I drop Ave off at school, I need to get dog food, oven cleaner, all purpose cleaner and a few other things. Thanks for all the encouraging comments from yesterday. I will re-read them on Sunday, have a wonderful day:)

wordless wednesday

I was doing the dishes yesterday and this is where she decided to lay. I know I really need to get a life:) Today is late start for the kids so I made them a big breakfast of sausage, potatoes and eggs but I had yogurt:( I usually love this breakfast but today it just didn't look good. Pastor wants me to give my testimony on quiting smoking tonight at church in front of everyone, I cant speak in front of people without wanting to pass out. I will do it only because Jesus wants me to:)

He is the one that helped me quit and I do owe him:) Justin put in for his time off on February 18th, he is crazy, he left January 2nd. When he told me this I sent him a text message and now he will be home for 1 night either Sunday or Monday:) He arranged it so he can take his 36 hour re-start at home. I really wish we would get some rain, this has been a dry winter for where I live in Oregon. Everything is iced up outside . Do you like how my wordless Wednesdays are never without words:) Have a great day!!!

Do I look like a homeless person:(

I just returned from the laundry mat and this lady asked me, " so did you just come here to watch tv." can you believe the nerve of her, I actually thought she was a man until she spoke to me. I replied, " I come here to do my laundry, why would I just come here to watch tv?" I wanted to say " you fn idiot" but I'm working on taming my tongue:) she then ended the inquest with " it was just a question". I guess my laundry clothes make me look like a transient so I will now dress nice to go do laundry. The attendant and I just ended up laughing over it, that lady was weird.

Awwww,so cute:)

This is a basket that I keep on top of the microwave, mama cat decided to make it her bed. I was told not to get on the scale for atleast 3 weeks, I couldnt wait and I checked my weight yesterday, I lost 5 pounds last week:) I need to start excercising or atleast walking. For those of you that may be concerned, dont worry these pills are vitamins and have no ephederine products:) Still no word from the owner, maybe he just wants me to make all decisions and thats why he does not respond to my e-mails. Justin said wait until Friday and the call AT&T to get an international calling plan and give him a call.
No school today, it's MLK day. Avery stayed the night at her friends house last night and the break was nice. I have 3 little girls all week and welcomed the peace. My dinner of roasted chicken and potatos and greenbeans turned out so good. Tonight the kids can have left overs, I will be going to bible study. Justin is on his way from Atlanta, Georgia to Fort Collins, Colorado, he says he wont be home for another 3 weeks:(
Have a happy Monday:)))

Happy Sunday!!

look at these cutie pies playing, they love each other so much

I love Sunday's, I love going to church and coming home to make a nice Sunday dinner. I think I'm the only one that appreciates it:) I'm making roasted chicken, baby yellow potatos and fresh greenbeans. Last nights chicken pot pie came out really good. I started off with just intending to have a salad for dinner but could not resist having a taste of that pot pie:)

I still have not heard from the owner, today makes 5 days. I think he is either in trouble or maybe sick. I hope he contacts me soon. I have his phone number but cant call Mexico, I need to order a international plan to do so. That will be my last resort. I hope you all have nice day!!

Ouch, my back hurts

I really don't like my bed, Justin needs a firm mattress for his back but it is killing mine. We need one of those sleep number beds. Last night I took Avery to her troops "holiday" party, the actual Christmas party was cancelled when we had the snow anyways I checked in all the girls and then had to leave to go to a African Missions banquet at my church, they served a tri-tip dinner and showed a presentation about missions in Africa. I ended up having to leave right in the middle of the event because I way over ate and my stomach was cramping. I think these pills are shrinking my stomach, I only finished half my plate. I felt bad walking out like that. We have Girl Scouts this morning also, we have been selling cookies for the last week. I think we have sold 65 boxes so far, today I will sign up for some booth sales. I'm going to make Brenda's chicken pot pie for dinner tonight and have a salad with it. I have a lady in Utah that wants to rent the place but the owner has not responded to my e-mails for three days and I'm not sure how to go about renting to someone 600 miles away, you know as far as signing the lease. She wont move here until the middle of February. I think something bad may be wrong with the owner, I'm getting worried. I need to figure this out:(

A picture tag

My friend T. tagged me:) Im supposed to post the 5th picture in my 5th folder and then tag 5 friends to do the same. have fun.

this is one of my son's pirate lego men, he took the camera outside to take pictures of his legos, he is very creative.

My stomach has been queasy since yesterday, I think from adjusting to these pills. I will post more tomorrow:) I tag everyone and that includes, Brittany, Brenda, Barbara, Kath, Peggy, Julieann, BJ, Sharon, Kathi, Linda, Toni, Shirla, I know you have been tagged. I think thats all my friends:)))

wordless wednesday with words

This is my beautiful niece Lily, she is 17 months old and I really miss being a part of her growing up. I asked my sister to send me a good picture so I can enter her in Regis and Kelly's beautiful baby search. In the past 2 days my sis has taken 63 pictures, Lily likes to ham it up for the camera so the pictures look cute but she is being silly. I cant wait to see all my family in May, but this little one especially:)

she is laughing not crying
I think if my sis doesn't send any more I will enter this picture

laundry day and cleaning:(

I just returned from the laundry mat, I must be the only mom in blog land that has to do laundry at the laundry mat:( In Sacramento our house had a laundry room with a washer and dryer and I always had those machines running:) This apartment doesn't even have the option of having a washer and dryer:( So now I need to put the clothes away and clean the fridge because tomorrow is garbage day and I always try to get the old food out and change the cat box then the garbage man can take the stinky stuff and it helps keep the smell from absorbing into my garbage can:) I start babysitting another little girl today but it's only for an hour or so after school. I still don't have a tenant for this unit:( These pills are making me not want to eat like I used to. My dog just ate all the peanuts that I set out for the squirrels the shell and all. I hope they don't make her sick. Justin still doesn't have time to talk to me. If he calls I pretend like I'm busy and have no time to talk to him. I realize that is immature and bratty but that's the mood that I'm in:) LOL. I need to figure out what I'm making for dinner. I would actually like to learn to make my own chicken pot pie, maybe I will search for a recipe. I hope your Tuesday is productive and uneventful:)))

I love Mondays:)

My mama cat sleeping in Avery's build a bears bed

my crazy cat taking the dogs treats out of the bag and trying to eat them, she doesn't know that she is a cat

dinner last night

Yay!! The kids are back at school, except the little girl I babysit will be here at 9am, her parents are going to custody court today. The dad should have no problem he has had her since she was 3 she is now almost 10 and her mom is in drug treatment. Poor little thing broke down in church yesterday, I had to hug her for about ten minutes. She shouldn't be worried about all those grown up problems. last night I went to watch 5 people be baptized in water at church, it was pretty neat. I was baptized in a river about 6 years ago, but I didn't understand the significance of the event, I just did it to do it. I think in August at my one year anniversary of being saved I then will be baptized.

I'm taking about 26 pills a day, I'm getting tired of swallowing all these already. My dinner turned out so good last night. I think tonight I will make chicken tacos, I have womens bible study tonight, I love the ladies in this group, I love everyone at my church. There are no clicks and it is a decent size group of people. Everyone knows everyones name. I'm praying that Justin and Ian will someday want to go to church with me.

I must go clean my house now, have a wonderful Monday!!!!

weight loss

Today I started my weight loss pills from Advocare, Ian's girlfriend has lost 10 pounds already. She has been on them for 3 weeks. I know I also need to change my eating habits and excercise. My goal is small to start with, I only want to lose 15 pounds by May and anything else is a welcomed bonus. For dinner tonight I will attempt to make corned beef and cabbage with red potatos. Justin will have to guide me through this dish, he is actually the one who has taught me how to cook. He picked up a new student yesterday and now doesn't need me on the phone as much:( We are off to church right now, have a blessed Sunday:)))

lazy day

I pretty much slept all day. I don't know if it is due to not sleeping well at night lately or I may be coming down with the virus Ian had. Avery went to a sleepover at her little friends house and Ian is off somewhere so I'm alone:(

15 years ago

Dont laugh:) this is me and Ian 15 years ago, I was 20 years old, have a happy Friday:)

Ian's update

My niece Lily in Sacramento 2 days ago, I get to see her in 4 months.

I checked in on her and this is how I found her playing
I took Ian to the doctors yesterday and he still had a fever, yes I sent my son to school with a fever:) She thinks it is just a virus and needs to run it's course, she gave him a note for school, I guess he cant go to school until the fever has been gone for 24 hours. It is normal now so I'm thinking he can go to school tomorrow. Attendance is such a big part of his grade. All his work is done on computers he doesn't have books unless they are reading one for a class. He has this little computer chip thingy that has all his work on it. The school told me that he can access his assignments on-line but Ian has yet to do that. He better get on it today after I take him shopping to spend his gift cards from Christmas. We rarely get time together just the two of us so Im taking advantage of this opportunity:) Thursday bible study/potluck with the elder ladies finally picks back up today, Im so happy to be getting back on track. Im baking pumpkin bread because I have a kit for it and I have some peanut butter chocolate bars that I need to get out of the house before I eat anymore, so I will take both of those. Im off to finish my cleaning and visit all my blog friends. Have a great day!!!

wordless wednesday with words:)

I tried to upload a picture but my computer is being ugly and wont cooperate. The tenants I thought I had decided it wouldn't be a good idea to live upstairs with a pacemaker and knee problems. I totally understand that. I'm just glad that the owner and I are still getting along.
Justin is laid over today so I have just been snuggled up on the couch with my warm cozy blanket talking to him for the first half of the day:) I miss him, I know I was eager to get him back to work but now I miss him. He says I'm cuckoo:) I sent my son to school today but only because he left against my wishes last night to go to the neighbors and play video games, so if you are well enough to do that then you can go to school. He just called from school sick and is coming home. I'm taking him to the doctors and if he try's to leave again I will call dad:) His appointment is at 4pm, the school is requiring a note if he misses anymore days and Ian's chest is gurgly. ( is that a word) maybe antibiotics are necessary. Avery has missionettes at church tonight, Im so happy to be back on track. Thanks for continuing to visit me :)

answered prayers

I think I have tenants!! They are an older couple with a 17 year old daughter and one dog. The gentleman drove truck for 40 years until this summer when he had a heart attack and is now on disability. I e-mailed the info to Dale ( the owner) and guess what he was so nice in his responses, even sending me a e-mail flower and telling me that Im doing a good job and that he likes me. I told you guys he was unstable. So thanks for all your prayers and thanks to my church for praying. Now hopefully things stay calm, we dont want to move until Ian graduates highschool. It would not be fair to him to take him out of a school that he is doing so well in. Justin and I thought about putting an ad on Craigs list explaining what we are looking for and how many pets we have, thats the hurdle all my pets. I will just continue doing what Im doing with the least amount of contact possible with Dale.
Ian is still sick, his temp right now is 102.7. Im not sure at what point do I take him to the doctors. I think I will tomorrow if the fever does not break today. I pray Avery does not get it, when she gets sick it hits her hard. I took her to the doctors once when she was 4 and her fever was 105 the doctor called an ambulance and she was taken to the emergency room. I just wanted to thank everyone again for your prayers and encouraging words:)) Have a wonderful Tuesday!! OH, I boasted to my womens bible group last night of how all you wondeful ladies help me with such caring feedback:)

My award from Brittany

This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

My picks are: Brenda

Barbara

Peggy

Shirla

Kath

T.

BJ (blessed with 4)

mind of a mom

Thank You Brittany for thinking of me, you are a sweetheart:)

Im going to make some phone calls today about getting out of my lease early, I actually did niot sign a lease for this unit, he forgot. I need to find out if my old lease automatically transfered to my new unit. Even after I sent the " kiss butt" e-mail to just try and smooth things over he still replied with an ugly threatening response. I just ignore him now and am writing everything down. When he offered me this position back in April we hesitated and thought on it for a day. We knew better, we lived walking on egg shells because he plays on the role of being "in control". I am looking at another unit in this same complex today, I know it is smaller and not nearly as nice as mine but I cant handle the stress and the uncertainty of not knowing if he will come home and evict us ot not resign the lease. Finding someone that will accept all of our animals will be a challenge. This is what happens when you screw up the first have of your adult life and you dont own a home:( This other owner will take our pets, if we move there it would just be temporary. Im also worried that the 3 1/2 years of living here will turn into a bad reference. I just want to go back to being a simple tenant. Im allowing him to have to much space in my head and I have to stop that.

My son is home with a fever today and I know I need to go to the laundry mat and do some house work, I had little girls all weekend:( Thanks for all the encouraging words and feedback:) Have a happy Monday

Someone please pray for me:(

Avery and her classmate Melissa

Look at her go, she went once around holding on, then she took off

It is a blurry picture of Avery skating towards the window

Yay! I got my ring out of the pawn shop, we borrowed the money when the microwave blew. We need to learn how to be more responsible The hotel room that Justins company put us in

I know the devil is testing me. Even after three months of not smoking I let the stress of this man's (landlord) e-mails get to me. Justin insisted that I write a kiss butt e-mail to the landlord and just tell him what he wants to hear for the sake of anymore stress. So I did and I'm not feeling good about myself. First off this man smokes marijuana, I know that because i smelled it all the time and when I was packing his kitchen I found a bowl full of it and handed it to him. he pulled out his medical marijuana card to explain himself. People who smoke that have up and down moods and forget what they are talking about. Also 2 nights before he left for Mexico he brought two hookers to the upstairs unit back to back. The second one ended up running out at 1:30 am screaming rape waking up the neighborhood. The police came but made no arrests. I don't know why. This is a man of questionable character and unfortunatly in Oregon tenants have no real rights in a rental, if an owner wants you out then you are out. It is easy and fast. We can't take that chance, it is also hard to find a place that will accept all the animals we have. Im very unhappy. Avery is testing me with her attitude and im not one to spank but I feel my anger with her will lead to it. I did not want to move until Ian graduates from highschool but I think looking around is a good idea. We have no ties to this town, we can move anywhere.

I took Avery and three of her friends ice skating yesterday. It was a first for all of them, they all did well. Avery was out in the middle doing spins, I was very impressed. We had girlscouts this morning and now Avery is in her room for the day. I dont know what else to do for her. I dont know why she is so mean to her friends, I did not teach her to be so ugly. I really need prayer and feel like Im not "in" good enough with God to ask for myself, so if you got it like that with God can you say a little prayer for me:))

Christmas Pictures

Justin is finally gone and now maybe I can get back on track. I took him to work at 3:30 this morning. I have a bunch of rental work to do today. Im really not liking this "manager" position. Only $230 is being deducted from my rent and I feel it should be more. Two young men came and applied yesterday and each paid $40 for the background check, I still have to call the employee, previous rentals and references. What was the point of me putting them into this renters system we use if I still have to do all the work. And $40 is expensive Im sure thats not what it cost. It didn't show prices but Im sure it wasn't. I dont want to be the one to tell these young men that they have been denied. That decision has not been made yet Im waiting via e-mail for the owner to communicate with me. I think that is absurd also. Everytime I ask a question I have to wait hours for an answer. Im just a mom and a good tenant doing him a favor. He acts like I went to property management school or something. Justin says just try and stick it out, once this unit is rented it should be less stressful. Also I took on a 5 day a week babysitting job for Averys friend. The little girl goes everywhere with us, she is in alot of pictures. Her dad can only pay me $50 every 2 weeks which is fine with me. Haley is a friend and he is a single father. Haleys mom who used to live nearby lost her baby and rights to see Haley because she was using drugs. So until she gets her life together I will be watching Haley. The girls bicker all day long it is annoying:) I just want to get my house clean and organized. Thanks for letting me vent, I could go on but I must start being the "manager"

Look at the mess, I had it under control for the first half. Mia is trying to get the cat

Doesn't Justin look thrilled about putting together another toy

Look at him, he is mad that I bought him that book

My mom bought her this in Hawaii